Computer system with a variety of applications and method for operating the same

Abstract

A provided computer system has a variety of additional application functions such as television, audio, video, communication, game, home automation functions, etc., as well as general mathematical computation and logic functions. Also, the system has a switch circuit and a booting control circuit. The switch circuit is used in selecting the additional functions which has a plurality of switches corresponding to the functions respectively. The booting control circuit is operated with a first supply voltage VCC -- A which allows power supply to apply a second supply voltage VCC -- B to central processing unit, several kinds of memory units and input/output peripherals when at least one of the switches is on. The central processing unit loads basic input/output system routines into random access memory so as to initialize and check circuits of the computer system, and loads application routines for the additional functions into the random access memory without loading operating system routines when the at least one of the switches is on.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A computer system, comprising: a bus for communicating information;   a power supply supplying first and second supply voltages;   a switch circuit for selecting the additional functions;   a read only memory unit coupled with the bus, for storing a set of basic input/output system routines which control input and output peripherals of the computer system;   an auxiliary memory unit coupled with the bus, for storing a set of operating system routines which control operation of the computer system for the purpose of obtaining an efficient performance of the system;   an additional function memory unit coupled with the bus, for storing multiple sets of application routines which execute the additional functions respectively;   a central processing unit coupled with the bus, for processing information according to instructions of the routines;   a random access memory unit coupled with the bus, for storing the instructions, the information, temporary variables and immediate information during execution of the instructions by said central processing unit temporarily; and   a booting control circuit operated with said first supply voltage, for generating a power control signal and an interrupt request signal when at least one of the additional functions is selected, said power supply to apply said second supply voltage to the central processing unit, the memory, and the input/output peripherals in response to said power control signal, and said central processing unit loads the basic input/output system routines and the application routines into said random access memory unit in order, in response to said interrupt request signal.   
     
     
       2. The computer system of the claim 1, wherein said switch circuit comprises: a plurality of switches, each having a first end and a second end, each first end being connected to said first supply voltage; and   a plurality of resistors, each having a first end and a second end, each respective first end being connected to respective ones of said second ends of said switches and said each one of said second ends of said resistors being connected to ground voltage.   
     
     
       3. The computer system of the claim 2, wherein said booting control circuit comprises: means for receiving voltage signals on said second ends of the switches, and generating said power control signal and said interrupt request signal;   means for receiving a predetermined address signal from said central processing unit, and generating a latch enable signal; and   means responsive to said latch enable signal, for latching said voltage signals on said the second ends of the switches, and providing said latched signals to said bus.   
     
     
       4. A method for operating a computer system, comprising the steps of provide central processing unit, a first storage means for storing a set of basic input/output system routines and a second storage means for storing a set of operating system routines, a third storage means for storing multiple sets of application program routines for execution of additional functions, a plurality of switches for selecting the functions, and a system board;   detecting whether at least one of the switches is on;   applying a supply voltage to said board when at least one of said plurality of switches is on;   initializing and checking circuits of the computer system by means of the basic input/output system routines;   determining which additional function is to be loaded into said third storage means; and   executing said additional function by means of the application program routines.   
     
     
       5. The method of the claim 4, further comprising the step of booting said computer system in accordance with the operating system routines when general computation and logic functions are required. 
     
     
       6. A method for operating a computer system, comprising the steps of: provide a central processing unit, a first storage means for storing a set of basic input/output system routines and a second storage means for storing a set of operating system routines, a third storage means for storing multiple sets of application program routines for execution of additional functions, a plurality of switches for selecting the functions, and a system board;   booting the computer system by means of the basic input/output system and operating system routines;   detecting whether at least one of the switches is on;   generating an interrupt request signal when the at least one switch is on;   determining which additional function is to be loaded into said third storage means;   discriminating which at least one of the additional functions is required, in response to the interrupt request signal; and   executing said additional function by means of the application program routines.   
     
     
       7. A multimedia computer system, comprising: a bus for communicating information;   a read only memory unit coupled to said bus, for storing a set of basic input/output system routines which control input and output peripherals of the computer system;   an auxiliary memory unit coupled to said bus, for storing a set of operating system routines which control the operation of the computer system for the purpose of obtaining an efficient performance thereof, and multiple sets of application program routines for execution of additional functions;   a central processing unit coupled to said bus, for processing information according to instructions of the routines;   a random access memory unit coupled to said bus, for storing the instructions, the information, temporary variables and immediate information during execution of the instructions by said central processing unit, temporarily; and   a power switch of said computer system;   said central processing unit loads the basic input/output system routines into said said random access memory unit so as to initialize and check circuits of the computer system when said power switch thereof is on, and loads the application program routines into said random access memory unit without loading the operating system routines when execution of the additional functions is required.   
     
     
       8. The computer system of claim 7, further comprising a real time clock unit coupled with said bus, for interrupting said central processing unit to load the basic input/output system routines into said random access memory unit at the time set by user. 
     
     
       9. A method for operating a computer system, comprising: provide a central processing unit, a first storage means for storing a set of basic input/output system routines and a second storage means for storing a set of operating system routines, and a third storage means for storing multiple sets of application program routines for execution of additional functions;   initializing and checking circuits of the computer system by means of basic input/output system routines when a power switch thereof is on;   checking whether execution of the additional functions is required during a predetermined time period;   executing the additional functions when the execution of the additional functions is required; and   booting the computer system by means of operating system routines when the execution of the additional functions is not required during the predetermined time period.   
     
     
       10. The computer system of claim 2, wherein said booting control circuit comprises: an OR gate circuit having a plurality of input terminals to receive the voltage signals on said second ends of the switches respectively and an output terminal to generate an output signal used as the power control signal and the interrupt request signal;   a decoder circuit for decoding address signals from said control processing unit, and generating a latch enable signal; and   a register circuit having a plurality of input terminals connected to the second ends of said switches respectively, a plurality of output terminals connected to said bus, an input enable terminal receiving the latch enable signal, and an output enable terminal to be always active.